The Runaway McBride (Berkley Sensation) [Mass Market Paperback]

Elizabeth Thornton (Author)

Book Description

Series: Berkley Sensation | Publication Date: February 3, 2009

James Burnett is a widower who?s given up hope of finding someone to share his life with. He did, however, once have a lover he later dubbed Faithless McBride. For eight years, he?d suppressed thoughts of Faith McBride?s abandonment with whiskey and women. That is, until visions of her imminent death started to haunt him. Only James can save her from a killer?but can Faith trust the one man who destroyed her faith in love?

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Berkley; Original edition (February 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425226344
• ISBN-13: 978-0425226346
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #688,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Romance could be stronger...but writing good and mystery held my interest, February 16, 2009

By 

statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Runaway McBride (Berkley Sensation) (Mass Market Paperback)

On her deathbed, James Burnett's clairvoyant Scottish grandmother foretells that his bride is in mortal danger. James must save her or she will die. The problem is, James is a widower living in London and does not have a bride. Soon, though, he begins to have nightmares about Faith McBride, his first love to whom he was once engaged, but who abandoned him before their wedding. James has not seen her in the eight years since and has no desire to see her now. But when he dreams that Faith is being stalked by a murderer - a dream that is all too real - he is compelled to find her and protect her. Faith remembers their break-up completely differently, namely, that James left her for another woman and broke her heart. Now she wants nothing to do with him, or so she keeps telling herself. Then she is attacked by unknown assailants, and James comes to her rescue. It seems their love may yet get a second chance...if only James can keep his `bride' alive.

By and large this is a worthy read: the writing is good, the cast likeable, and the story draws one in. I especially like the way everyone assumes Faith and James are engaged (when they are not), and how tellingly feeble are the couple's denials. And the who-done-it is exciting and keeps one guessing till the end. But the couple's relationship, which has so much potential, falls short. For instance, Faith and James learn that they can communicate telepathically with one another, yet oddly give it little importance. One would think they'd be thrilled with such a gift and try to perfect it - particularly when Faith's life is in danger - but instead they muddle along and hope for the best until it is almost too late. The love scenes are fine but, when the couple becomes intimate, their reaction to it is unbelievably - and disappointingly - casual and uncommunicative. A certain lack of communication is expected in order to prolong the sexual tension, but this seems overdone. It somewhat weakens the romance, although of course true love prevails.

I like this author and have read many of her books. This is the first in a new series involving James' family, all of whom appear in this story and are very appealing. On the whole, it's a good start. 3 ½ - 4 stars

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A lttle tepid at times...., January 3, 2010

By 

J. Nusz "Author, reviewer & graphic designer" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Runaway McBride (Berkley Sensation) (Mass Market Paperback)

On her deathbed, James Burnett's grandmother passed on her powers to one, or all, of her three grandsons. James is doubtful that his grandmother actually had any powers, until he begins to have some frightening dreams, and then some waking hallucinations. He soon realizes that he's inherited a gift he never wanted.

Faith McBride begins to haunt his dreams, both waking and sleeping, and soon James realizes that he must find Faith, or risk her death. None too happy to have to renew his aquaintance with a woman who dumped him, James does his duty and finds Faith anyway.

Faith is not thrilled to see James when he finally manages to find her, quickly escaping as soon as she is able, unwilling to dredge up old feelings of when her beloved had married another. James pursues her relentlessly, and it is only when she realizes that she is in real danger that she accepts his help.

THE RUNAWAY MCBRIDE is at times a bit tepid, with the characters having a hard time making up their minds, and the plot seeming to go off kilter a few times, but otherwise the book is a good read. Even though it wasn't quite the page turner that I had hoped for when I sat down to read it, THE RUNAWAY MCBRIDE does have a delightful historical flavor, populated with believable characters.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars too many holes, March 10, 2009

By 

avid reader (brooklyn) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Runaway McBride (Berkley Sensation) (Mass Market Paperback)

The story had so many holes - she thinks he deserted her, he thinks she deserted him, and they never thought to discuss when they meet again after all these years to clear each other??? So many times he alludes to her "running away" (hence the title) and she alludes to his leaving her and never writing, etc etc, yet they never pick up on this and defend themselves. Even when his brother calls her the runaway bride, she never asks why they call her that, if she did not run off at the alter like he said. I Left the story in the middle, it was just too unbelievable and I could not get into it. Did not like it at all.